Children's Day of this year delights not only children as usual but also stamp collectors in that China Post announced the release of 7.5 million sets of special stamps of "Animation—Calabash Brothers” on June 1.

In fact, three kinds of stamps derived from domestic animation have been issued on Children’s Day since the founding of new China: special stamps of "Little Tadpoles Search for Their Mother" (2013), special stamps of "Havoc in Heaven" (2014) and this year's "Calabash Brothers".

Little Tadpoles Search for Their Mother, the first Chinese ink cartoon produced by Shanghai Animation Film Studio in 1960, tells the story of a group of tadpoles mistakenly taking goldfish, crabs, turtles and catfish as their mothers, and determining to identify the real mother after a series of misunderstandings. The short film became a milestone in the history of Chinese animation as soon as it came out.

On June 1, 2013, China Post issued special stamps of “Little Tadpoles Search for Their Mother” which consists of five stamps and a stamp booklet.

Additionally, Havoc in Heaven also lists one of the most classic cartoons in China. Elaborately produced by Shanghai Animation Film Studio from 1961 to 1964, the long color animated film shows the legend experience of Monkey King through a series of adventurous stories like “the Monkey King stormed the sea palace” and “the Monkey King make an uproar in Heaven”. 

On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the release of Havoc in Heaven on June 1, 2014, China Post issued special stamps of “Animation—Havoc in Heaven” including six stamps and a stamp booklet. The six stamps are printed as: Looting in Dragon Palace (80 points), Placed in Charge of Horses (80 points), Self-proclaimed Great Sage Equalling Heaven (1.20 yuan), Trouble in the Peach Garden (1.20 yuan), Fight with Sky Soldiers (1.20 yuan), and Hit the Lingxiao Palace (1.20 yuan).

Calabash Brothers is a 13-episode paper-cut cartoon originally produced by Shanghai Fine Arts Film Studio in 1986. As one of the representative works in the second prosperous period of Chinese animation, it has become a classic in China with its cliff-hangers of seven magic gourds—seven brothers with superior skills fighting with the goblins to save their families.

The upcoming special stamps of "Animation—Calabash Brothers” values 6.40 yuan with six stamps: Seven-color Gourds, Mazes in Dream, Desperate Living, Miracles of Fire and Water, Clever Gain of Ruyi and United Seven Brothers. 

(Compiled by Xu Yuhong)